Author Topic: Exercising your working cocker  (Read 3605 times)

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Offline Laura J

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Exercising your working cocker
« on: October 30, 2020, 12:35:22 PM »
Hi everyone!
I am new to this site but am finding it incredibly useful already. We have our names down at an amazing breeders for a working cocker pup, fingers crossed we will be in one of the Spring 2021 litters.
We know that this breed is high energy and needs lots of exercise as well as games and mental stimulation. What I want to know is exactly HOW much exercise these dogs need??
We are ready for 2 walks a day, one would be probably 40 minutes mainly on a lead and the other an hour involving fields and off lead with a ball etc. Is this sufficient for most working cockers? My partner works at home full time so she will have company during the day and his intention would be to fit in 1 or 2 short play/training sessions with her during the day where she has his full focus.
Any comments you have on this would be super super useful!

Offline bizzylizzy

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Re: Exercising your working cocker
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2020, 01:32:59 PM »
Hi and welcome! Its a great idea to start preparing ahead and this is a good place to start. I‘ve learned loads on here during the five years I‘ve had my dog, its all good advice based on experience.
Humphrey is show line and is very laid back anyway so I‘ll leave the advice to the COL‘ers with working cockers, the only thing I would say is that mental stimulation, nose work etc requires a good deal of energy, so if the dog is given the opportunity to use its brain, its not always necessary to offer huge amounts of physical exercise every day. The balance you‘ve described sounds fine to me.
Although balls are a great way to exercise, its easy to fall into the trap of just becoming the thrower to a ball junkie and gun dogs love nothing more than the chase, so rather than just chucking it for the dog to fetch, you can integrate into training other things, ( and training in itself is all „work“ for the dog and will use up energy). It might be an  idea to have a look at some of the training videos, youtube etc for advice or consider contacting a gun dog training class.
Keep us posted, looking forward to news of the arrival!!

Offline Laura J

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Re: Exercising your working cocker
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2020, 05:47:55 PM »
Thank you so much!
Yes I suppose that's very true. I have been reading that with this type of breed you can walk all day long and they won't tire - you just end up increasing their fitness so they are eager to do even more. I need to do some more research on mental stimulation activities and games just to get some more ideas, but agree it's very important and in some aspects a better way to use up 'extra' energy. Plus fun for me and the dog so hopefully will build a better bond!
YouTube has been great, I have just discovered Winbeck Gundogs channel, the videos on there are fab and seem realistic and achievableto me (famous last words!)

Offline Emilyoliver

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Re: Exercising your working cocker
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2020, 07:07:28 PM »
Hi,
Excellent advice from bizzylizzy. I’d add that the most important thing you need to do when out with your cocker is engage with it. They aren’t the kind of dog you can ‘just take for a countryside ramble’. Their hunting instinct is usually very strong and they’ll go self-employed very quickly and find their own entertainment if not kept under close control. You’d do best taking it to a gundog trainer and learn how to train hunting under control. You may never work it as a gundog, but the training will be invaluable in terms of learning what makes your dig tick and how to keep it safely under control and happy. Make sure you find a spaniel trainer (rather than retriever).

I have 3 ‘working‘ working cockers. In terms of exercise, my worker puppies don’t go for ‘walks’. I’ll take them out for 15-20 minutes 2x a day and play/train them. All fun stuff - retrieving and hunting exercises. My 11month old puppy still has this (aside from the odd trip to the beach) where he is allowed to run with the adult cockers. The adult dogs get about 2x 40-45mins a day offlead exercise unless we’re helping on the shoot ‘herding birds’ which takes longer. But basically they don’t get hours and hours of free running. In summer they do quite a lot of swimming which keeps them fit and happy (retrieving from water is excellent exercise). Be careful you don’t fall into the trap of ‘over-stimulating’ your pup as well. If they are constantly entertained/ stimulated with games, some can battle to settle. So boundaries and some routine are recommended.

Didn’t mean fir that to be so long - sorry! Hope at least some of it helps. Good luck with your puppy 😊
Michelle, Emily and Ollie

Offline theshrew

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Re: Exercising your working cocker
« Reply #4 on: November 02, 2020, 01:56:25 AM »
They love just love running about, some love swimming others don’t. It doesn’t matter if you have a show or working Cocker they all just love zooming around.


Offline pibbo1968

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Re: Exercising your working cocker
« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2020, 09:22:28 AM »
They aren’t the kind of dog you can ‘just take for a countryside ramble’. Their hunting instinct is usually very strong and they’ll go self-employed very quickly and find their own entertainment if not kept under close control.
Jura,our WCS,is now 3 and has gone "rogue" a bit.He's always hiding stuff he finds out on his walks,usually empty drinks cans/bottles ;) All his walks are mostly off lead and he runs about in the woods "finding" stuff he's previously hidden :005: It's a game he seems to love so we just go with it.If he's told to "drop" or "leave it" he does....but never there and then he will always hide it first.We vary his walks(we're lucky to have loads of options) and he has stuff hidden all over the place.He always seems to remember where :luv:
We tend to walk him twice a day,anything from 30 mins- 2 hours but he has done a few 10-15 mile days too.He has access to the the rear garden anytime but some days is happy to just go there and lie in the sun :shades:
We've often thought about getting one of those little trackers to see just how far he does!

Don't get too hung up on quantity.It's what you do whilst they're out with you that counts.

Offline Laura J

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Re: Exercising your working cocker
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2020, 04:55:22 PM »
Thank you so much everyone, this is all really helpful and has really reassured me. This will be our first dog (excluding family dogs when growing up), and we've waited a LONG time for everything to fall into place to make it possible. So we're so eager to make sure we're super prepared to do the very best we can!  We still have a few months to wait although I'm sure they will pass quickly with everything going on right now. Fingers crossed for an Easter puppy, will keep you updated!

Offline Pearly

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Re: Exercising your working cocker
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2020, 03:26:48 PM »
Emilyoliver has given great advice already. 

We have 5 cockers, 4 wcs and a scs.  All are high energy and need lots of stimulation. 

There growth plates don’t close until around 14 months old and hearing is last to develop!  Don’t over exercise in the first 12 months or so, 5 minutes walking for each month of age is the general guidance (at 4 months aim for 20 minutes max).  Instead of walking, use the time to train your pup with manners, boundaries and basic obedience.  The Kennel Club run a “Good Citizenship” certification programme which is a great way of socialising your pup* and teaching the basics.  Beyond that, find a local gun dog trainer and make sure you teach a set of brakes....this is probably the most important piece of advice anyone will give you!  To be able to stop your dog, at any distance, when you want or need is imperative with wcs especially if they have a high prey drive! It’s not easy to do and takes perseverance and consistency but is a brilliant way to bond with your pup and incredibly satisfying when you have complete reliability.

Enjoy your pup,

Jayne
* once your pup is over 6 months old you don’t have to socialise your dog and well mannered dogs will choose not to approach others!

Offline lady and the cat

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Re: Exercising your working cocker
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2020, 06:09:43 PM »
thanks for all answers I am in the same boat as the OP